May 29, 2024

Anthropological Skulls of Thought

May 29, 2024/ Staff

How many of you are willing to brave a long boat ride, take a challenging hike through forest and mountain, and slither down a cave for the singular purpose of seeing human remains? It's not many people's idea of fun, certainly not for those past the age of dreaming they are Indiana Jones. But for a group of 20 students of anthropology, the journey was well worth the hardship, and the reward of seeing up close the strangely modified skulls was a dream-come-true.

The vaunted site (at least for those into the study of humanity, as anthropology is defined) is the Guyangan Cave System in Banton, the northernmost island of Romblon. Guyangan is network of caves known to hold a rich trove of archaeological treasures that could well hold the key to understanding in greater detail the evolution of our race.

The skulls there are unique in its inexplicable deformity: the foreheads are much higher than a regular human. How did this happen and why? The answers are still in the speculative stage but our lead story this week by UP anthropology major Aidrielle Raymundo about their trip to Banton is fascinating.

Just as fascinating is cultural writer Pablo Tariman's story about Damodar Das Castillo, a cello prodigy who is just 16 years old but has already won five first prizes in international competitions, performed in various international stages and earned standing ovations from ecstatic audiences.

An anthropological documentation of a different kind is the story of a pandemic as seen through the experiences of Fil-Am health care workers in its frontlines. There is a book about it and we're appreciating it this week.

And speaking of books, book designing is a specialized art that few have mastered. But a Filipino artist named Felix Mago Miguel has done just that and he's profiled by PF correspondent now based in France, Criselda Yabes.

With deep sorrow, we pay tribute to Barbara "Tweetums" Gonzalez, one of the Philippines' best columnists, who passed away in Manila on May 28. Her first publisher, Karina Africa Bolasco, writes a stirring tribute to this lady who wrote so beautifully about life. We are also posting a piece from her Facebook page, which was her column for the Philippine Star on April 24.

[Video of the Week] South China Sea Tensions: Onboard A Philippine Convoy Boat That Sailed Towards Disputed Reef

In The Know

Stockton museum highlights Filipino American heritage
https://fox40.com/news/local-news/stockton/stockton-filipino-american-national-historical-society-museum/

6 Filipino ‘ulam’ hog Best Pork Dishes in the World list of Taste Atlas for 2024
https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/food-drinks/filipino-best-pork-dishes-world-2024-taste-atlas/

Traveler waves Philippine flag on sandbar near Pag-asa Island
https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/on-the-radar/2024/05/24/2357576/traveler-waves-philippine-flag-sandbar-near-pag-asa-island?

Philippines: world’s largest rice importer again
https://opinion.inquirer.net/173953/philippines-worlds-largest-rice-importer-again

Maria Ressa delivers the Commencement Address | Harvard Commencement 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dETo7ECQKc

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Heritage Month campaign stops hate by spreading love
https://asamnews.com/2024/05/29/resilience-perseverance-stop-aapi-hate-storytelling-campaign/

Miss USA Savannah Gankiewicz says she's received death threats and hateful messages since being crowned
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/miss-usa-savannah-gankiewicz-says-170839361.html

Asian students face racism, harassment at school. What would make it stop?
https://wausaupilotandreview.com/2024/05/18/asian-students-face-racism-harassment-at-school-what-would-make-it-stop/

Why are hate crimes so hard to convict in court?
https://wausaupilotandreview.com/2024/05/17/why-are-hate-crimes-so-hard-to-convict-in-court/

Legal fund helps Asian Americans fight discrimination at work
https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2024/05/15/asian-american-workplace-discrimination-legal-fund

Statistics of sentiments: How Asian Americans feel
https://sundial.csun.edu/181618/print-editions/print-stories/statistics-of-sentiments-how-asian-americans-feel/

Veteran attacked in Chicago suspects it was a hate crime
https://asamnews.com/2024/05/24/hate-crime-racially-motivated-attack-chicago-kevin-qin/

Funding provided by the State of California.

June 16, 2021

Light, at Last

June 16, 2021/ Gemma Nemenzo

Positively Filipino honored famous fathers with an inspiring webinar yesterday. It featured Sylvia Lazo, daughter of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo; Lindsay Keys, daughter of Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba; Rey Banatao, son of tech entrepreneur Dado Banatao; and Vicki Nievera, daughter of popular balladeer Bert Nievera. Hosted by Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, the event was a fitting celebration of Father's Day. Watch the recording here “Loving Kids Talk About Their Famous Dads”

As California, Vermont and other US states emerge from the darkness of a pandemic year, the process of reopening has triggered a slew of advice and caution, some serious how-tos on re-entering the social circuit, others offering funny cautionary tales about the post-Covid world. For seniors, undoubtedly the biggest demographic impacted by the pandemic, AARP, its trusted guardian angel, came out with a list of protocols for houseguests newly liberated to visit family. Occasional PF contributing writer Elena Buensalido Mangahas however thinks the list not too apt for Filipinos so she came up with her own, "The Fil-American Rule: Apologize Then Proceed." Do you have your own rules?

Our series of "Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous" is now on part 21, putting talent and achievements on display.

We're at the midpoint between two national celebrations -- Philippine Independence Day (June 12) and Rizal Day (June 19) so it's but fitting to post (and repost) stories that celebrate our Motherland's history and National Hero. First off, Harvey I. Barkin reports on a recent talk by noted historian Ambeth Ocampo on Rizal's visit to the US, "Rizal in the US: He Was Not Impressed." We also have the link to the actual lecture.

Here are other interesting Rizal stories:

"Rizal's Great Loves" by Penelope V. Flores

"Jose Rizal, Martial Arts Warrior" by Rene J. Navarro

Timed appropriately for these disturbing times, our Video of the Week presents a powerful, incisive short film, "Heneral Rizal." a production of Act One in the Philippines.

And continuing our Rizal tribute, here's a repost of the recipe for Tinolang Manok or Chicken Tinola, reportedly his fave dish.

In The Know

Trese: What Netflix's new occult anime reveals about the Philippines
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57424360?fbclid=IwAR2ifQf5T8CBDgrQwVHKb-6xnVpCujzE-5XchS-pNEBpXs6Ew6PUHP6PKTI

[Dash of SAS] Second chances in the only country in the world without divorce
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/dash-of-sas-second-chances-only-country-in-world-without-divorce?fbclid=IwAR2h6pPJqxtlWwkXeZUQ7ES5u91zm2Gi7kMLxhv8h7MYn8XR8DjXLBx2wBQ

Breaking down Filipino cuisine by region is harder than you'd think
https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2021/06/02/breaking-down-filipino-cuisine-region-harder-youd-think?fbclid=IwAR1WCSRmfIAsU99iR6vzUHuNBtc9j3XLMadbxsJM02hymoJS5YY6XlzEOk0

Filipino American nurses, reflecting on disproportionate Covid toll, look ahead
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/filipino-american-nurses-reflecting-disproportionate-covid-toll-look-a-rcna1112

NBA’s Jordan Clarkson restores vandalized Filipino food truck, decries Asian hate
https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/nbas-jordan-clarkson-restores-vandalized-filipino-food-truck-decries-asian-hate/?fbclid=IwAR1iGw5-gjH4zaL3_2pMJnxao80m91Qxi4g6M9DvSkbTL0vMJ7OnZv1-hzo

7 Ancestral Homes and Heritage Buildings in the Philippines Turned Into Beautiful Dining Spots
https://ph.asiatatler.com/dining/ancestral-homes-and-heritage-buildings-turned-into-beautiful-dining-spots

December 16, 2020

A Life in Film

December 16, 2020/ Gemma Nemenzo

Some of the best Filipino movies were created in the mid-1970s to the mid-80s when the likes of Lino Brocka, Ismael Bernal, Mike de Leon, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Peque Gallaga, Eddie Romero and Lupita Kashiwahara dominated the directorial scene.

Not surprisingly, the period also brought about the elevation of production design as an award category, in recognition of its role in setting the overall look and feel of a movie. Setting the gold standard for production design was Fiel Zabat, who worked on some of that era's most critically acclaimed films and won many awards for her work.

The Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino recently awarded Fiel with the Natatanging Gawad Urian, the lifetime achievement honor, for her body of work. Manunuri stalwart Butch Francisco writes an extensive feature on Fiel's filmography and dishes out some juicy behind-the-scenes stories of the making of a number of Filipino film classics. ["Fiel Zabat: A Film Production Designer’s Production Designer"]

Meanwhile, the world is hopefully in the homestretch of the war against the Covid-19 virus and contributing writer Susan Araneta sums up the large role of Filipino health workers in various countries who were the frontliners in this, the most severe public health challenge of the century. ["A Virus Among Us: Filipinos and COVID-19"]

In Hawaii where many Fil-Ams won elective positions in the state legislature, long-time Honolulu resident and professor Belinda Aquino writes about the distinguished career Senator Donna Mercado Kim. ["State Sen. Donna Mercado Kim: A Household Name in Hawaii"]

The Happy Home Cook: Beer-Braised Pork chop from Rene Astudillo

Video of the Week: U.P. Concert Chorus sings “Simbanggabi”